Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
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Your Voice Matters – Engage with Congress in the New Session

Dear APRO Member,

As the new session of Congress begins, now is a pivotal time for the RTO industry to make our voices heard. Your engagement with lawmakers is critical to ensuring that policies affecting our businesses and customers reflect the realities of our industry.

At APRO, we are committed to advocating for the RTO industry, and we are already engaging with new and returning members of Congress to educate them on the importance of rent-to-own. However, the most impactful advocacy happens at the local level – when lawmakers hear directly from their constituents. That’s where you come in.

How You Can Make a Difference

  1. Introduce Yourself to Your Representatives
    Your Senators and Representatives are getting settled into their offices, making this the perfect time to establish or strengthen relationships. A simple email introduction can go a long way in positioning yourself as a resource on issues impacting our industry. You can also contact their Washington, D.C., or district offices to schedule a meeting – either in person or virtually. APRO has a great new resource for you on our Advocacy Resource Hub that makes connecting with your Senators and Representatives simple and easy.
  2. Attend APRO’s Legislative Conference
    Our annual Legislative Conference is the RTO industry’s premier event to bring our messaging and make important connections in Washington, D.C. Many Congressional members and their staffers are new this year, presenting a key opportunity for our group to educate them on the benefits and importance of RTO. By climbing the Hill with APRO, you will have the unique opportunity to introduce yourself, share insights about the RTO industry, and offer your expertise as a resource when they need guidance on key legislative issues in the future. Registration is open and we would love for you to join us in D.C.
  3. Utilize APRO’s Advocacy Resource Hub
    APRO just launched a new Advocacy Resource Hub providing tools to help you communicate effectively with lawmakers and promote the value and benefits of the RTO industry. On the Advocacy Resource Hub, you will find some great resources, including:
    • Active industry advocacy campaigns and the ability to directly contact your Congressional representatives
    • Industry data and advocacy talking points
    • Legislative updates on issues impacting the RTO industry
    • State-level resources specific to your area and state rental dealer association
    • Collections of stories about RTO and our impact on communities and importance to local and national economies, featured on individual state pages
    • On-demand Advocacy Training Course

Stay Informed and Get Involved

Visit our Advocacy Resource Hub – www.rtohq.org/advocacy-resource-hub/ – to access these resources and take action. While you’re there, check out all the member benefits APRO offers to keep you informed and ready to act when legislative opportunities arise.

Your participation is essential to advancing the interests of the RTO industry in this new Congress. By reaching out to lawmakers and becoming a trusted voice in their policymaking process, you help ensure that decisions affecting our businesses are made with our industry’s realities in mind.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to me or your APRO staff. Let’s work together to make an impact!

Best regards,
Charles W. Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE
CEO
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)

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Mike Lewis

Central Properties dba Premier Rental-Purchase

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.